Viewing of Different Full-Screen Television Content by Different Viewers At the Same Time Using A Related Display

ABSTRACT

Different full screen content is displayed on the same television at the same time from the perspective of the viewer by displaying as the content as two full screen sequential frames. The different full screen content may be provided as a single combined frame signal such as a side-by-side, top-bottom, or checkerboard signal which is then displayed as two sequential full screen frames. Configured glasses such as polarized or shutter are used to view the different content as full screen content where one pair of configured glasses views an initial one of the sequential frames but blocks the subsequent one and another pair of configured glasses blocks the initial one of the sequential frames and views the subsequent one. Shutter glasses have both lenses open during the initial frame and both closed during the subsequent one. For polarized glasses, the initial frame has a polarization matching both lenses of one pair of glasses while the subsequent frame has a polarization that differs from both lenses.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/649,159, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,477,195, filed on Jul. 13, 2017, whichis a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/983,223, filed on Dec.31, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,712,811, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/378,941, filed on Sep. 1, 2010, andentitled Viewing of Different Full-Screen Television Content byDifferent Viewers At the Same Time Using Shutter Glasses and RelatedDisplay Timing, which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to viewing television content such as televisionprograms or video games. More particularly, embodiments relate toviewing different full-screen television content by different viewers atthe same time by the viewers using configured glasses such as shutterglasses or polarized glasses.

BACKGROUND

Viewers of television content on a particular television conventionallyview the same content as other viewers watching the same television atthe same time. However, in some cases, it may be desirable for one ormore viewers to see television content that differs from the televisioncontent being seen by one or more other viewers watching the sametelevision at the same time. For instance, two individuals may desire towatch the same television at the same time but may one individual maywish to watch one program while the other individual may wish to watch adifferent program. As another example, two users may be playing a videogame on the same television at the same time where each user has a userspecific view of the game content.

Conventionally, when two viewers desire to watch different programs onthe television at the same time, they resort to a picture-in-pictureapproach. However, both users see both pictures and one or both of thepictures are less than full-screen. When two viewers desire to play amulti-player game with user specific view of the game content, theyresort to a game setting that provides a split screen presentation ineither a top-bottom arrangement or a side-by-side arrangement whereplayer 1 content is typically in a top or left half while player 2content is typically in a bottom or right half of the screen. However,both users see both halves of the screen and thus see both user specificcontent displays, and the user specific content displays are each onehalf of a full screen. While these approaches provide a solution todifferent content being display for different users on a singletelevision at the same time, both users being able to see both contentregions is a drawback, and each content region being less than fullscreen is also a drawback.

SUMMARY

Embodiments address issues such as these and others by providing asystem where a source device provides a signal, such as a split screenor checkerboard signal, that is the combination of two 2D contentregions. Split screen may include such variants as top-bottom,frame-packed, or side-by-side. The two 2D content regions may beoriginally less than full-screen, such as in a typical video game splitscreen, or may originally be full screen content that is eitherdownscaled or frame packed into a single video frame in the split screenor checkerboard format. A display device capable of rendering a splitscreen or checkerboard format signal as two full screen sequentialframes, an odd frame showing one content region in full screen followedby an even frame showing the other content region in full screen, and soon.

In one instance, a first user wearing a pair of shutter glasses has theshutter glasses synced to a television display so that both lenses areopen to allow viewing of the odd frames but are closed to block the evenframes. A second user wearing a pair of shutter glasses has the shutterglasses synced to a television display so that both lenses are open toallow viewing of the even frames but are closed to block the odd frames.

In another instance, a first user wearing a pair of polarized glassesthat have one polarization where a television display provides the oddframes with a matching polarization and even frames with a non-matchingpolarization such that the first user only sees the odd frames. A seconduser wearing a pair of polarized glasses that have another polarizationwhere the television display provides the odd frames with a non-matchingpolarization and even frames with a matching polarization such that thesecond user only sees the even frames.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one system using a split screen source with a split screencapable display device.

FIG. 2 shows one system using a split screen source, an adapter, and acheckerboard capable display device.

FIG. 3 shows one system using a checkerboard source with a checkerboardcapable display device.

FIG. 4 shows a process of a top-bottom split screen 2D frame beingdisplayed as two sequential full screen frames.

FIG. 5 shows a process of a side-by-side split screen 2D frame beingdisplayed as two sequential full screen frames.

FIG. 6 shows one example of logical operations of a set top box or othercontent receiving source to generate a multi-program 2D output signal.

FIG. 7 shows one example of logical operations of a game console orother gaming source to generate multi-player 2D output signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide for multiple viewers to view different full-screencontent at the same time on a single television. The embodiments includea source device that produces 2D signals having one type of content inone region of the frame for one viewer and another type of content inanother region for another viewer. The embodiments include a displaydevice that receives the 2D signal and extracts the content in oneregion of the frame to create odd full frames of content for viewing bythe one viewer and extracts the content in the other region of the frameto create even full frames of content for the other viewer. In oneinstance, each viewer wears shutter glasses that are synced so that onlythe odd frames or only the even frames are viewable. In another instanceeach viewer wears polarized glasses that are polarized in correspondencewith the polarization of the television display so that only the oddframes or only the even frames are viewable.

FIG. 1 shows a split screen source 102 for a 2D signal, such as a dualfeed set top box, a multi-player game console, or a separate device thatreceives two separate full screen signals from other source devices andcombines them into a split screen format. The split screen source has anoutput 104, such as a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port.This output 104 sends a split screen signal, such as a top-bottomsignal, a side-by-side signal, or a frame packed signal which happens toinclude two regions of 2D content. This signal 106 carrying two regionsof 2D content is to be distinguished from a 3D signal, which might usesplit screen to carry two regions of content that form a 3D display whenone eye views one frame derived from one region while another eyesubsequently views another frame derived from the other region.

A display device 108 includes an input 110, such as an HDMI port thatreceives the split screen signal 106. The display device 108, such as a3D television is made to operate in a side-by-side, top-bottom, or framepacked 3D mode that matches the format of the split screen signal 106.So, for a side-by-side split screen signal of 2D content, the 3Dtelevision operates in the 3D side-by-side mode. For a top-bottom splitscreen signal of 2D content, the 3D television operates in the 3Dtop-bottom mode. For a frame packed split screen signal of 2D content,the 3D television operates in the 3D frame packed mode. In the propermode, the display device 108 converts the split screen signal 106 intotwo sequential full screen frames where both may be sequentiallydisplayed in the same amount of time a single frame would ordinarily bedisplayed. One region of the signal 106 forms the first full screenframe while the other region of the signal 106 forms the second fullscreen frame. For instance, one region may be the top half of the splitscreen frame while the other region may be the bottom half of the splitscreen frame. As another example, one region may be the left half of thesplit screen frame while the other region may be the right half of thesplit screen frame. Where the split screen frame is a normal displayresolution of the display device 108, the display device 108 may upscaleeach region when creating the full screen frame, such as by stretchinghorizontally or vertically to fill the full screen. Where the splitscreen is double the display resolution of the display device 108, suchas for a frame packed split screen signal that has double the verticalresolution or double the horizontal resolution such that each region isalready in the full screen resolution of the display device 108, thedisplay device 108 may display each region in its native resolution as afull screen frame.

In the case of some video games, the split screen frame may be createdby maintaining the geometry of the content within a given region butreducing the amount of content space being displayed by one half of theframe. In that case, the display device 108 fills the full screen byupscaling the content from the region of the split screen frame whichwill alter the geometry of the content and give the appearance of thecontent being stretched. For instance, a top-bottom signal may usenormal geometry but display only half the content space as only half thevertical resolution is available. When displayed in full screen, thecontent appears stretched vertically in order to fill the full screen.Likewise, a side-by-side signal may use normal geometry but display onlyhalf the content space as only half the horizontal resolution isavailable. When displayed in full screen, the content appears stretchedhorizontally in order to fill the full screen.

In the case of other video games, the split screen frame may be createdby altering the geometry of the content within a given region butmaintaining the amount of content space being displayed by one half ofthe frame. In that case, the display device 108 fills the full screen byupscaling the content from the region of the split screen frame whichwill return the content to a normal geometry when being displayed, andtherefore, appear normal rather than stretched. For instance, atop-bottom signal may use altered geometry where content space andobjects appear to have half the vertical size as normal but display thefull content space as only half the vertical resolution is available.When displayed in full screen, the content appears to have a fullvertical size when filling the full screen. Likewise, a side-by-sidesignal may use altered geometry where content space and objects appearto have half the horizontal size as normal but display the full contentspace as only half the horizontal resolution is available. Whendisplayed in full screen, the content appears to have a full horizontalsize when filling the full screen.

The odd and even full screen frames 114 created from the two regions ofthe split screen frame are displayed in sequence. The display device 108also produces a synchronization signal 112, such as a Digital LightProcessing (DLP) Link Signal emanating from the display screen in thecase of a 3D or 3D ready DLP television or alternatively a signal thatemanates from an infra-red or radio frequency emitter of a 3D or 3Dready television.

In one instance the viewers wear shutter glasses, 116 and 118. A firstviewer wears shutter glasses 116 and has the glasses synced to thedisplay device 108 via the sync signal 112. In order to watch thedesired television content with both eyes, both lenses should have thesame state. So, when the left lens is open while the content of interestis being displayed as a full frame, the right lens is also open and whenthe left lens is closed while the content that is not of interest isbeing displayed as a full frame, the right lens is also closed. Thus,this is a distinction from the operation of shutter glasses being usedto view 3D content, where the left and right lenses have oppositestates. When the lenses of shutter glasses 116 are open to view contentof interest to the viewer wearing the shutter glasses 116, the lenses ofthe shutter glasses 118 are closed as the content being displayed atthat instant is not of interest to the viewer wearing the shutterglasses 118. Likewise, when the lenses of shutter glasses 118 are opento view content of interest to the viewer wearing the shutter glasses118, the lenses of the shutter glasses 116 are closed as the contentbeing displayed at that instant is not of interest to the viewer wearingthe shutter glasses 116. An example of shutter glasses with thiscapability are the Optoma BG-ZD101 DLP Link glasses by OptomaTechnology, Inc., the CrystalEyes 4 and 5 by RealD, Inc. which allow theselection of 3D mode, only odd frames to both eyes for 2D viewing of 3Dcontent, and only even frames to both eyes for 2D viewing of 3D content.

In the context of simultaneous television programs, the viewer wearingshutter glasses 116 watches a first program in full screen, where theodd frames are of a first program and the shutter glasses 116 are openduring the odd frames while the shutter glasses 118 are closed. Theviewer wearing shutter glasses 118 watches a second program in fullscreen at the same time, where the even frames are of the second programand the shutter glasses 118 are open during the even frames while theshutter glasses 116 are closed.

In another instance, rather than using shutter glasses, each user maywear polarized glasses where the polarization is the same in both lensesof one pair of glasses for viewing one content while the polarization inanother pair of glasses is the same in both lenses but different thanthe polarization in the first pair of glasses for viewing anothercontent. In this case, the television display provides the frames of onecontent, such as the odd frames, with a polarization matching the firstpair of glasses while the television display provides the frames of theother content, such as the even frames, with a polarization matching theother pair of glasses.

FIG. 2 shows a similar setup except that the display device 126 is onlycapable of converting a checkerboard format signal into two sequentialframes. In this case, the source device 102 is a split screen formatsource as discussed above for FIG. 1. Therefore, the display device 126is connected to an adapter 120 that converts a split screen format, suchas top-bottom, side-by-side, or frame packed, to a checkerboard format.As a specific example, the display device 126 may be a MitsubishiDigital Electronics America, Inc. 3D or 3D ready DLP television whilethe adapter 120 may be a Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.3DA-1 3D adapter. The display device 126 and the adapter 120 may beconsidered a display device 130.

The adapter 120 includes a port 120 such as an HDMI port that receivesthe split screen signal. The adapter 120 includes a port 124 such as anHDMI port that outputs a checkerboard signal 107. The display device 126includes a port 128 such as an HDMI port that receives the checkerboardsignal 107. The display device 126 then displays sequential frames wherethe odd frames correspond to content from one region of the split screensignal while the even frames correspond to content from the other regionof the split screen signal. The adapter 120 may be automatically ormanually placed into the proper 3D mode, such as top-bottom 3D mode fora top-bottom split screen signal of 2D content, side-by-side 3D mode fora side-by-side split screen signal of 2D content, or frame packed 3Dmode for a frame packed split screen signal of 2D content, in order tocorrectly extract the content from the proper region when constructingthe checkerboard format. So, for instance, for a video game in atop-bottom split screen format, either the video signal 106 may providea flag to instruct the adapter 120 to enter top-bottom 3D mode or theuser may manually select the top-bottom 3D mode. The result is that theplayer 1 content is displayed in full screen as odd frames and theplayer 2 content is displayed in full screen as even frames, each ofwhich are viewed by the proper player using correctly synced shutterglasses as discussed above for FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a system where the source device 132 is capable ofproducing a checkerboard signal 136 via a port 134 such as an HDMI portthat contains two regions of 2D content. A display device 138 that ischeckerboard capable receives the signal 136 via a port 140 such as anHDMI port. The display device then produces the sequential frames asdiscussed above and the viewers wearing the correctly synced shutterglasses 116 and 118 view the proper content.

In the context of a checkerboard format signal 136, the two regions of2D content are not contiguous regions. Instead, each region is scatteredacross the frame in a checkerboard pattern, so pixels of one regionwould correspond to the red squares of a checkerboard while pixels ofthe other region would correspond to the black squares. The displaydevice 138 extracts the content for each region based on thischeckerboard format to render full screen sequential frames.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a top-bottom split screen frame 200 having a16:9 aspect ratio but with each region having a 16:4.5 ratio. There is atop region 202 containing program 1 or player 1 2D content, and a bottomregion 204 containing program 2 or player 2 2D content. This splitscreen frame 200 accounts for t0 and t1 display times. However, thissplit screen frame 200 is displayed by the top region 202 being fullscreen 206 for display time t0 with the bottom region 204 being fullscreen 208 for display time t1. Shutter glasses A are open for t1 butclosed for t2 while shutter glasses B are closed for t1 but open for t2.This repeats for the next split screen frame at the normal frame rate,such as 60 progressive split screen frames per second. Thus, two viewerswatch different full screen content at the same time on the sametelevision.

It will be appreciated that the same is true for a vertically framepacked split screen frame except that the ratio is 16:18, with eachregion being 16:9 such that there is no need to upscale to produce afull screen frame at a 16:9 ratio.

It will also be appreciated that polarized glasses may be used insteadof shutter glasses where the frame at t0 has one polarization matchingthat of both lenses of a first pair of glasses while the frame at t1 hasa different polarization matching that of both lenses of a second pairof glasses.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a side-by-side split screen frame 300. Thereis a left region 302 containing program 1 or player 1 2D content, and aright region 304 containing program 2 or player 2 2D content. This splitscreen frame 300 accounts for t0 and t1 display times. However, thissplit screen frame 300 is displayed by the left region 302 being fullscreen 306 for display time t0 with the right region 304 being fullscreen 308 for display time t1. Shutter glasses A are open for t1 butclosed for t2 while shutter glasses B are closed for t1 but open for t2.This repeats for the next split screen frame at the normal frame rate,such as 60 progressive split screen frames per second. Thus, two viewerswatch different full screen content at the same time on the sametelevision.

It will be appreciated that the same is true for a horizontally framepacked split screen frame except that the ratio is 32:9, with eachregion being 16:9 such that there is no need to upscale to produce afull screen frame at a 16:9 ratio.

It will also be appreciated that polarized glasses may be used insteadof shutter glasses where the frame at t0 has one polarization matchingthat of both lenses of a first pair of glasses while the frame at t1 hasa different polarization matching that of both lenses of a second pairof glasses.

FIG. 6 shows an operational flow of one example of a television programsource device, such as a set top box from a cable, satellite, orinternet provider. Initially, the source device detects whether aselection has been received to provide multiple program displays at onceat a query operation 402. If not, then the source device outputs program1 at full screen at a display operation 404. If such a selection isreceived, then the source device receives the selections for programs 1and 2 at a selection operation 406. The source device then combines theframes of programs 1 and 2 into a split screen or checkerboard formatsignal at a combination operation 408. The source device then outputsthe signal to the display device at an output operation 410.

Because separate television programs have separate audio and the audiosystem may realistically only provide audio from one source via normalspeakers, the source device may receive a selection of which audio tooutput, or may default to outputting audio for one of the two programs.As another feature, the source device may output audio of the otherprogram to a separate audio output such as a headphone jack.

The source device may take additional actions in relation to themulti-program simultaneous output. The source device may include at aninsert operation 412 a split screen format flag in the signal beingoutput to the display device to instruct the display device as to which3D format to enter in order to correctly display the two regions ofcontent as sequential full frames. For instance, the flag may indicatetop-bottom, side-by-side, frame packed, or checkerboard. As anotherexample, the source device may produce an overlay that instructs theuser to select the proper 3D mode to correctly display the two regionsof content as sequential full frames at an overlay operation 414. Asanother example, in the case of using shutter glasses the source devicemay also display an overlay instruction regarding the need tosynchronize the glasses using a mode that allows both eyes to see thedesired program at an overlay operation 416. In the case of polarizedglasses, the overlay instruction at overlay operation 416 may insteadinstruct the user to wear the appropriate polarized glasses, such as forplayer 1/content 1 and for player 2/content2.

FIG. 7 shows an operational flow of one example of a game device, suchas a game console. Initially, the game device detects whether aselection has been received to provide multiple player split screendisplays at a query operation 502. If not, then the game device outputsplayer 1 content at full screen at a display operation 504. If such aselection is received, then the game device combines the content ofplayer 1 and player 2 into a split screen format, or if capable acheckerboard format signal, at a combination operation 506. The gamedevice then outputs the signal to the display device at an outputoperation 508. Because multiplayer games have the audio of both playerscombined, the game device outputs the audio as usual for split screenmode.

The game device may take additional actions in relation to themulti-player simultaneous output. The game device may include at aninsert operation 510 a split screen format flag in the signal beingoutput to the display device to instruct the display device as to which3D format to enter in order to correctly display the two regions ofcontent as sequential full frames. For instance, the flag may indicatetop-bottom, side-by-side, frame packed, or checkerboard. As anotherexample, the source device may produce an overlay that instructs theuser to select the proper 3D mode to correctly display the two regionsof content as sequential full frames at an overlay operation 512. Asanother example, in the case of using shutter glasses the game devicemay also display an overlay instruction regarding the need tosynchronize the glasses using a mode that allows both eyes to see thedesired player content at an overlay operation 514. In the case ofpolarized glasses, the overlay instruction at overlay operation 514 mayinstead instruct the user to wear the appropriate polarized glasses,such as for player 1/content 1 and for player 2/content2.

While the discussion has been in relation to one program per region andone player content per region of a split screen frame, it will beappreciated that each region may have multiple programs or multipleplayer content. So for instance, the split screen may be broken intoquadrants, such as where there is a four player game. Content 1 and 2,such as player 1 and 2 content, may be side-by-side in a top row andcontent 3 and 4, such as player 3 and 4 content, may be side-by-side ina bottom row. First and second users may view both content 1 and 2 whilethird and fourth users may view both content 3 and 4 by using atop-bottom 3D mode of the display device, where the top row is one fullframe and the bottom row is a subsequent full frame. Likewise, first andthird users may view both content 1 and 3 while second and fourth usersmay view both content 2 and 4 by using a side-by-side 3D mode of thedisplay device, where the left column is one full frame and the rightcolumn is a subsequent full frame.

While embodiments have been particularly shown and described, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in theform and details may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A system for viewing different content in a fullscreen, comprising: a source device configured to output a frame packedsignal that includes a first content in a first spatial region of theframe packed signal and a second content in a second spatial region ofthe frame packed signal, the frame packed signal having double thevertical resolution or double the horizontal resolution of a full screenresolution of a display device capable of displaying the frame packedsignal such that the first spatial region and the second spatial regionwithin the frame packed signal are in the full screen resolution of thedisplay device, such that the frame packed signal is configured suchthat upon the frame packed signal being displayed the first content isviewable in full screen and the second content is not viewable in fullscreen by a first viewer and such that the second content is viewable infull screen and the first content is not viewable in full screen by asecond viewer, and such that the first content and the second content ofthe frame packed signal are not upscaled to be viewable in full screen.20. The system of claim 19, wherein the frame packed signal comprises aside-by-side signal with double the horizontal resolution of the displaydevice.
 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the frame packed signalcomprises a top-bottom signal with double the vertical resolution of thedisplay device.
 22. The system of claim 19, wherein the source device isconfigured to output a flag that instructs the display device to switchto a frame packed display mode to display the first content and thesecond content.
 23. The system of claim 19, further comprising thedisplay device that is coupled to the source device and that displaysthe frame packed signal.
 24. The system of claim 19, wherein the sourcedevice is a game console, wherein the first content is a first playergame content, and wherein the second content is a second player gamecontent.
 25. A system for providing a first content and a second contentin a full screen, comprising: a source device configured to output aframe packed signal that includes the first content in a first spatialregion of the frame packed signal and the second content in a secondspatial region of the frame packed signal such that the first spatialregion and the second spatial region each has an aspect ratio matching afull screen aspect ratio of a display device capable of displaying theframe packed signal, such that upon the frame packed signal beingdisplayed the first content is viewable in full screen and the secondcontent is not viewable in full screen by a first viewer while thesecond content is viewable in full screen and the first content is notviewable in full screen by a second viewer, and such that the firstcontent and the second content of the frame packed signal are notupscaled to be viewable in full screen.
 26. The system of claim 25,further comprising the display device that is coupled to the sourcedevice and that displays the frame packed signal.
 27. The system ofclaim 25, wherein the source device is configured to output a flag tothe display device that instructs the display device to switch to aframe packed display mode to display the first content and the secondcontent.
 28. The system of claim 25, wherein the source device is a gameconsole, wherein the first content is a first player game content, andwherein the second content is a second player game content.